Manuel de Godoy

Manuel de Godoy was appointed chief minister of King Charles IV, becoming the most powerful figure in Spain. His rise was due to the favor of the king and queen, and he dominated Spanish politics for over a decade.

Godoy signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau with Napoleon, allowing French troops to cross Spain to invade Portugal. This agreement led to the French occupation of Spain and the subsequent Peninsular War, which devastated the country.

After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, Charles IV abdicated in favor of his son Ferdinand VII, and Godoy was arrested. This event marked the end of Godoy's power and led to the French invasion and the abdication of both Charles and Ferdinand at Bayonne.

Godoy was exiled after the fall of Charles IV, spending the rest of his life in France and Italy. He died in poverty in Paris in 1851, having been a central figure in the collapse of the Spanish monarchy and the onset of the Peninsular War.